Our Stories

Everyone has a story. God has designed you and I for a purpose which makes life a great adeventure. Our journeys have pain and loss but they also include joy and satisifaction. What is your story in your journey of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ?

Below are testimonies of people like you and I who have found a  journey with a new friend named Jesus. Read. Enjoy. Be encouraged!

Virginia’s Story

I was born July 21, 1929. I have seen many changes in this world. Some good some not so good.
I was the first grandchild on my daddy’s side. There were eight children on Dad’s side and nine on my Mom’s side. I was very much loved on both sides of the family. I was not aware of this at the time.
Probably in about the 5th or 6th grade I had a girlfriend that was a Christian and the Lord had laid it on her heart that I should be born again. This was before WW II broke out.
I can’t remember a time when I did not know about Jesus. I guess Mom told me when I was too young to remember being told. I’m sure my parents were not born again. We did go to church.
This girl I mentioned gave me many opportunities but I was just blind. One Saturday night she asked me to go to a young people’s meeting at her church. I would rather have gone to the movies but to please her I went. I did not get saved. I was too proud to cry so I hardened my heart so I wouldn’t cry. I wasn’t so bad, I never murdered anyone or stole or lied much.

Sometime later I woke up in the middle of the night. I wanted to be saved so I knelt by my bed and I heard “You are just too wicked to be saved” I agreed after all I had lied and said I was saved.
After that I lived a life of pretense. I sang in the choir. I had read my Bible for a long time, dated a boy that didn’t drink.
Now here I have to stop and tell you that there is a strong mental picture that I have that affected the rest of my life.
My brother had been given a BB gun and was allowed to shoot sparrows because they carry disease. He brought in a 3 baby sparrows. There was 3 of them that fit in his 2 cupped hands. They were so pitiful and so ugly! To this day I can feel the sting of tears behind my eyes and a strange ache in my heart. Their fragile naked bodies, their wings and feet. Big hands, bulging eyes, but not opened. Months opening and closing, begging for food.
I was saved late November 1950. Someone said we should savor our salvation, reliving our born again experience, over and over. I used to. I haven’t thought of it in detail for a long time.
I wasn’t sure if I was pregnant or not. My husband and I went to a revival meeting at First Baptist church in Mt. Pleasant. He agreed to please his sister and apologized to me. At first we had to sit in a little room then they put the church member in the choir seats and we got moved to the main sanctuary.
At that point I got the feeling this time might be different. I’d been searching for God for a long time. At one point I didn’t even believe there was a God.
The message was about judgment day and all the excuses that weren’t good enough.
I can no longer remember the question but I remember thinking. “A person would be a fool to go to hell for just not raising their hand.” I remember thinking “as soon as I see someone even start I will go.” I couldn’t speak to anyone or I will be held back. “Fighting my way to the front and grabbed the outstretched hand as one does when drowning.
I heard “Are you saved?” No, but I want to be I choked with emotion. Mrs. Pete Riggs, the evangelist’s wife. The pastor’s study. The Bible plan of salvation. Satan kept saying to me “you are not so bad, you don’t need this” I do too I was saying back. Satan “You’re too wicked to be saved.”

My God cares about a sparrow and I’m worth more than a sparrow. In my mind’s eye I saw the 3 baby sparrows. Mrs. Riggs must have gone over the plan of salvation at least 4 times. Finally, she prayed and I heard her say “ I believe Virginia is saved. I just gave up. I thought to myself this is a nice lady. I will just pretend I’m saved, live my life, die and go to hell. Suddenly, I got so mad, I made up my mind that when I stood before God at the judgment I was going to tell him off. “I did my part I know Jesus is your Son I believe Jesus died for my sins and if I’m not saved it’s your fault and not mine!” Somewhere before I could finish I was gloriously saved. I was encircled by a bright light-after all those years of darkness.

The lady did one more thing that has served me well. She said her husband would ask me on the way out if I was saved and how did I know. My answer: because Jesus paid it all! It made Pete Riggs mad to preach his heart out and then few people to not get saved!
I have been blessed to be a Child of God for almost 61 years. I have been blessed and I have never been sorry. I want to say to all. Be saved and be born again. Make peace with God… you will be glad you did! The sooner the better!

I was in the hospital and saw a picture on the TV that affected me. I had a pain in my heart. It was the sad emotion that I felt because my sin caused Jesus to die on the cross. He died for my sins and the only thing that hurts worse is knowing that there are so many lost souls that are going to be so disappointed. Please, you can be saved because Jesus paid it all.
The tears that are wiped away in heaven will be on Jesus cheeks when he has to say “depart from me, I never knew you.” Your good works, your perfect church attendance, etc. will not save you. Turn from anyone that says there are many ways to heaven. Believe Jesus when He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” God loves everybody and so should his children.

May we all be blessed to be a blessing.

Virginia McTee

Jesse‘s Story

            I accepted Jesus as my savior at the age of 9.   While sitting in church I felt the Holy Spirit rush into me and walked forward to let everyone know what had just happened.  There’s more to that story so ask!  My parents took us to church faithfully and I grew up singing in the choir and participating in youth activities.

            In college I occasionally attended the Methodist, Baptist or an independent church with some of my friends and my walk with Christ stalled some.  About my Junior year God put a young lady in my path that helped me learn that Jesus as my savior was the start not the end.  I begin attending Aldersgate UMC, listening to contemporary Christian Music and began to make Jesus my Lord as well.  I began to become a “practicing Christian.”

            I’ve learned the denominations are man-made and they don’t matter much to me.  I’ve stayed active in churches where God has led us.  God used me to help start a crisis pregnancy center in Baytown Texas, helped start what is now Lighthouse Community Church in Des Moines Iowa, serve as an elder in two churches in two denominations, lead small groups, sing and play on worship teams and do whatever else a servant does when the master calls.

            I’m still a work in progress with many flaws, scars, and of little strength.  My commitment is to serve and live as best I can while clinging to Jesus like the small children who cling to the parents as they come home from war!

-Jesse James Jackson Jr

Allen’s Story…

Hi, my name is Allen Melcher, this is how I came to know & trust Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. 

            I was 44 years old at the time.  I believed John 3:16, that there was a God and He died for me & I was good to go.  I had not repented there was no change in my life.  I thought I was a good person and on my way to heaven when I died.  I was doing life my way- self on the throne, chasing the world, wanting the money to be a big shot in the world’s eyes.  I had rental properties, was farming, & had a 40 hour a week job. My net worth was growing each year but I was burning myself out.  I was greedy and wanted just a little more and I wasn’t content.

            Then in 2000 a Christian co-worker gave me a Bible.  He was praying for me which I didn’t know.  I started thumbing through that Bible and read Mathew 22:36-38.  The greatest commandment Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.  I believed there was a God but He was last place in my life.  A dagger went through my soul.  I then read Mathew 6:24.  You can’t serve God & money.

The fear of God came over me; I was scared, if the Bible I was reading was true.  I was headed straight to hell.  I never told anyone I was praying, but every morning I would cry out to God and say to Him “If this book is true and you’re real, you’ve got to change me because I don’t get it.”

On September 17, 2003 God answered those prayers at a Promise Keeper men’s  conference.  He revealed Himself to me by moving in and taking over my life.  John 3:3.  I had been born-again.  It was my eternal birthday!!

It was then the Bible came alive to me.  God talks to me through it.  God is #1 in my life.  He convicts me when needed.  He encourages me when needed.  He is so faithful.  He empowers me to serve Him.  It’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me.  The true God of the universe loves me and wants to use me to help build His kingdom.

            Jesus Christ is alive & well worthy of all praise, glory, & honor!

            If you do not know Jesus Christ personally just sincerely ask Him to reveal Himself to you and He will (Jeremiah 29:13).      

-Allen Melcher